visibility. here's a look at storm track 7 live doppler radar. we continue to see many areas, especially off to the east, but we have more rain this afternoon. satellite and radar shows our area of low pressure in northern missouri an ssthern iowa. it will track through the area, wrap more moisture in and even fire off a few thunderstorms. the severe weather threat is off to our south and east. but we will be atching for arars to the south and east for the stronger storms to develop. here's future track throughout the afternoon and early evening hours. later this evening we will see snow wrap around this strong low pressure system, so that couu create some slick spots for the evening commute. be aware of that. also, temperatures will be dropping throughout the overnight, causing some slick spots on the roadways. so with everyone traveling, pleaae be careful. storm track 7 live weather network cameras show reduced visibility this afternoon. we will have an friends and family will say goodbye to an iowa wrestler who

suddenly over the weekend. austin roberts collapsed during a meet on sunday. he went to spenccr high school. yesterday the state medical examiner did an autopsy -- but results are pending. the visitation is this coming sunday and his funeral will be monday -- both at the spepecer high school gym. four people were rescued this morning after becoming strandd on a sandbar in prairie creek in cedar rapids... the people became straaed when their a-t-v veered into the creek... crews made the rescue with

were reported... prairie creeks located at e intersection of j street and hawkeye downs road... eastern iowaaman is arrestt following a report of gun fire and the discovery of a stolen assault rifle... police in waterloo arrested this man -- 22-year- old vincent harrington - - in the 6-huudred block of wellington street tuesday night... several people ran away when police responded to the report of gun fire in the area... the rifle was found at the scene -- and police say it was stolen in a burglary eaalier this wwk. with christmas day now just two days away -- right now is the high-time for traveling for the holiday. kwwl's amnda gilbert caught up with some eastern iowans hitting we have not been seeing a lot of this (snow).... some... "ive been here for almost 70 yeras and i cant remember christmases without having snow and i think it's great..." with christmas a aound e corner it''a nice sight to "last year i had to get through snow to get to them."

having to woory about thehesnow with them traveling distance advisor.... 41 percent of people say december holidays are the most stressfull.... and the most sressfull partrtof holiday travel: the weaaer... but not this year.... "i don't care whether we have a white christmas or not... i just like not having thenow..." not been hard to get in the christmas spirit with now snow." regardles... for some this is not your usual christmas... "as they said on the news earlier... mud butts this winter..." instead of snow boots. "becuase it's gonna be rainy and stuff." that was amanda gilbert reporting... now -- according to trip advisor...33 percent o@ people will be traveling for the christmas holiday.... and more thth half of thoss traveling plan on driving... some tips to make your holiday

less stressful.... travel during off- peak hours d load your favorixe music on to your smart phone or tablet. continuing coverage... change on the way. roundabouts are coming to university avenue in cedar falls. they'll all go in near ollege square mall. othee changes coming to university avenue -- some storm and sanitary sewer replacements. roundabouts continue to be a debated issue in the city... "it's no longer a state highway- according to the existing traffic and anticippted traffic in the oming years so i think we've got the right design." here's a ook at a round-about in cedar falls...the council believes they'll make university avenue safer, the traffic flow easier and drivers won't have to sit at all those red lights anymor. a multicultural family center in dubuque is being renamed to honor a civil rights activist. the council voting this week to honor ruby sutton. sutton was an instrumental

rightssovement. she died earlier this year. the building will officially be renamed early next year during a dedication ceremony. an eastern iowa man is being featured on a popular hunting show... nearlrl five years after a tree-stand accident puts him in a wheelchair. aaron heying and his wife maelyn are recently married-- they had a special type of honey moon in new mexii....hunting black bearr! a week after their wedding they went to film the popular hunting show "brotherhood outdoors." it'll premiere january third on the sportsman channel. decision 20-16... as democratic candiiate bernie sanders finishes up an iowa swing today... his three-day visit through our iowa. the vermont senator will be back in iiwa again forrthree days next week -- with caucus day here now just six weeks away... and -- spending for political advertising now topping 111 million dollars so far this year -- much higher than it was at this point four years ago -- when it was at 35-million. according to ad

third of that spending coming from jeb bush and his allies thhsmallest advertiser thus far happens to be the republican front- runner donald trump -- we'll have plenty more on trump and the presidential race coming up later in the show... hawkeye fans are preparing to head west for the rose bowl. the game is a week from friday.. the football team plans to leave on christmas eve. despite the many activities and festivities that go with the " yea were gonna enjoy the trip things to do there and they've got a lot of things lined up for us at the same time it is a business trip were out there for onnreason and its to win the game." now a kwwl follow-up. liam young--the 2-year r d who has lost his fingers and toes due to a medical mystery--gets to spend the holidays at home. liam's dad chris says he's made good enough progress, the hospital allowed him to o o home for aaout

he opened presents surrounded by a number of loved ones. young sas they weren't even sure liam would ake it to christmas, so having him there meanan a lot to the entire ffily... "it's one of the greatest things liam is scheduled to go back to the hospital on the 28th and has a surgerr the next ddy. as for his future, chris says it's still too soon to know what will coming up... an iowan gets his final wish -- in grand fafahion... the emotional story you have to see today is plus... a unique look at christmas lights in eastern iowa... we'll be ght back withthyour

on average, it takes three hundred americans working for a solid year, to make as much money as one top ceo. it's called the wage gap. and the republicans willllake it worse by l lering taxes for those at the top and letting corporations write their own rules. hillary clinton will work to close the wage gap.

a higher minimum wage, lower taxes for the middle class. she gets the job done for us. approve this message. for thunderstorms would be a between 2 and 5 pm. there could be a couple stronger storms as of iowa.

afternoonand on the back side half inch or less, but there could be slick spps for the evening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on christmas eve, with christmas looking dry. we are also acking anotherrystem for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the region. rain will continue to track through the kwwl viewing area through late this morning, with a dry period possible by the lunch hour. the best threat for thunderstorms would be a line from cedar rapids to dubuque and points southeast, and the best windowhwould be between 2 and 5 pm. there could be a couple stronger storms as well, but the better threat for severe weather will be southeast of iowa. the low tracks through this afternoon, and on the bak side there could be a brief period of rain and snowwhanging to all snow. accumulations would be a half inch or less, but there could be slick spots for the ening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a few ssow

christmas eve, with christmas looking dry. we are also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the region. in will continne to track through the kwwl viewing area through late this morning, with a dry period possible by the lunch hour. the best threat for thunderstorms would be a line from cedar rapids to dubuque and points southeast, and the best window would be between 2 and 5 pm. there could be a couple stronger storms as well, but the better threat for severe weather will be ssutheast of iowa. the low trackssthrough thiss afternoon, and on the back side there could be a brief period of rain and snow changing to all snow. accumulations would be a alf inch or less, but theee could be slick spots for the evening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on christmas eve, withchristmas lookokng dry. we are also tracking annher system for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the region.

through th kwwl viewingrea through late this morning, with a dry period possible by the lunch hour. the best threat for thunderstorms would be a line from cedar rapids to dubuque and points southeast, and the best window would be betweee2 and 5 pm. ththre could be a couple stronger storms as well, but the better threat for severe weather will be southeast of iowa. the low tracks through this afternoon, and on thh back side there could be a brief period of rain and snow changing to all snow. accumulations would be a half inch or less, but there could be slk spots for the evening commute, and it tur windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on christmas eve, with christmas looking dry. we are also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light rain and snowto the region. the low tracks through this afternoon, and on the back side there could be a brief period of rain and snow changing to all snow. accumulations would be a half inch or less, but there

evening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on christmas eve, with christmas looking dry. we are also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the region. rain will continue to track through the kwwl viewing area through late this morning, with a dry period possible by the lununh hour. the bebet threat for thunderstorms would be a line from cedar rapids to dubuque and points southeast, and the best window would be bebeeen 2 and 5 pm. there could be a couple stronger storms as well, but the better threat for severe weather will be southeast of iowa. the low tracks through this christmas eve, with christmas saturday which could bring l lght rain and snow to the region. a dry period possible by the will be southeast of iowa. california of all places one of the few states that may enjoy a

christmas this year... after all -- the snowpack there is 11-percent above average for the date statewide... this isisgood news for the region after dealing with extreme drought conditions for more than four years... coming up.... giving to charity has never been easier -- a look at donanaions made through the touch of a button... plus... craft beer mania across the country leads to an uptick in production of a vital ingredient... that's also on the way... you're watching kwwl. we've got you covered in ryan, durango, highland and all of eastern iowa a different view of a holiday announcer:ne candidate tough enough to take on the bully... jeb bu: donald, you're not going to be able to insult your way to the presidency. that's not goingngo happen. (applause)

jeb will destroy isis... and keep america safe. jeb bush: the united states should not delay inineading a global coalalion to take out isis with overwhelming force. announcer: tested and proven leadership matters. jeb bush.

drone. it's the "helping services ff northeast iowa drive through lights display" in decorah. the display benefits helping services for north-east iowa. the organization provides a number of programs and services to clients in the area. the demand for craft beer has sparked a surge in u-s hop production. the u.s. department of agriculture says production totaled nearly 79 million pounds this year.... an eleven perernt increase compared to last year. coming up.... one answer to head injuries in football that's been proposed this week may surprise you... and -- a report into the apps

you to be more charitable this holiday season... this is kwwl-- we'll be right

paris: there's a lot to do on a dairy farm. nobody's gonna do it for you. you have to get out there and do it yourself. bernie sanders is a well-known friend of family farms. bernie c cnot be bought out by big money. bernie's opinion cannot be purchased. it's time for our next president to get in there, roll up his sleeves, take off the gloves, and take on wall street, take on big businessss take on big money, and get the working class back to where they should be. he's a rock.

you're als helping people, in a time when they may need it e most... "p-c mike" wendland introduces us to a number of apps that make giving possible through just the touch of a allows you to find and donate to thousands of verifiednon-profits, mmke donatatons on the go, and build your charitable profile. pledging doesn't charge fees and is free for the donor and the charity. it stores your payment info securely. and, of course, you can consolidate your giving history andtax receipps intotoone spot sosokeeping track of donations is easy. the app is free for apple's ios. google's one today app allows you to give a little everyday - $ to be exact. the app features new that have been validated by the irs. the app also makes it easy to get a convenient, year-end tax receipt for all your donations. the free app is available for iis and android. charipick lives up to its name by letting donors cherry pick from featured charities every day. input your presented with non- aligned with where you feel best about ddating. you caa

share your good deeds on facebook and twitter. charipick is a free app for ios and android. "want more information about all this? i have made it eesy for you. all you have tt do is there's my address on your screen. i've built in direct links to everything i just shod you. till next time, i'm pcike wendland, for nbc news." coming up on kwwl, the mister food test kitchen.... a hearty dish that can be the star of your christmas feast... but first, a look at your latest numbers from wall street and the with christmas dinner right around thhcorner, now ii the rib. and just in case you're not familiar with how to cook one, let me show you and it's really

standing rib roast. i suggest getting it bonelessss which makes s t a whole lot e eier when now to give this lots of flavor, we rub it with a mixture of kosher salt, coarsely ground

garlic and onion powder. just make sure you place it on a rack, fat side up, this way the drippings will help keep it and after a bit, turn down the pound for medium rare. once it's done, tent it with foil and let it rest for about 15 minute this keepspsit juicy. while it's is slice aftft slice of pure favorites. i hope you'll go online and get the recipe for our "roasted prime rib of beef," so you can share one of my traditions with your family and friends. i'm howard in the mr. food test kitchen, where today we unveiled a "special" way for you to say . 1 "you're watching kwwl, we've got you covered. this ithe

a look at the national stories that made headlines in 20-15... plus -- the political races are tightening as the big caucus day and... a man allegedly kills his mother -- over bedbugs... welcome back to the news at noon.. i'm ally crutcher let's go back to storm track seven meteorologist kyle kiel now for your first forecast. from the kwwwstormtrack 7 weather team. see the screen information from the kwwl stormtrack 7 weather team:

scattered rain at this hour, but will continue with the threat for rrn, and a couple thunderstorms later this afternoon. we will also continue with low visibility. here's a look at storm track 7 live doppler radar. we continue to see many areas, especially off to the east, but we have more rain this afternoon. satellite and r rdar shows our area of low pressure in northern missouri and southern iowa. it will track through the area, wrap more moisture in and even fire off a few thunderstorms. the severe weather threat is off to our south and east. but we will be watching for areas to the souou and east fororthe stronger storms to develop. here's future track throughout the afternoon pressure system, so that could weather network cameras show reduced visibility this a woman who police say

vegas sidewalkss- killing one person and injuring dozens is scheduled to appear in court... lakeisha holloway being held without bail until this morning's hearing. she's with one count t f murder and chillabuse. her three year old son was in the car with her at the time of the incident. more decision 20- 16 coverage today... as we're hearing from hillary clinton... after donald trump called her a liar. trump blames the media. still, his numbers are strong. but if he falls, ted cruz is waiting in the wings. tracie potts has the latest from washington... "it's important to stand up to bullies wherever they are and why we shouldn't let anybody after donald trump's crude and explicit references to bathroom break at saturddy night's debbte and her 2008 ffled presidential bid.

tweeting that the "biased media" "incorrectly defined" his words. reuters poll this morning shows trump with triple the support of number two ben carson. "some people have expressed concern that i would quite because my numbers have gone down, i'm not a quitter." but quinnipiac puts him just four points ahead of ted cruz. "people are e aking up there is an awakening and spirit of revival sweeping this country." that quinnipiac poll found d lf the country would be embarrassed for trump to be president. but in that poll nearly six in ten republicans say that the person they're supporting right now isn't necessarily their final vote... trtrcie potts, nbb news, washington. trump tweeted overnight -- the media's blowing this oututof propootion... at a rally last night, hillary

coming from the republican side "mean-spirited." elsewhere --its being called black christmas. a group is planning a holiday otest in chicagag to push the city's mayor to resign. . they want chicagoans to come together on christmas eve... to demand the resignation of mayor rahm emanuel and the county state's attorney. in minnesota...the black lives matter movement wants to protest inside the mall of america today. a judge stressing the mall is private property and does have the rigdt to have protestors arrested, protestors today could be charged with tresppsing... also happening in the twin cites... prosecutors have charged a 62 year old man with second degree murder of his mother. what allegedly happened is the man went to his 89 year old mother's apartment to clean and help with chores. he told police he was upset over the bed bugs in the apartment -- and that nothing he did would get riri of them... he was convinced the landlord wouldn't renew the lease, and there would be many things to move... so he took a statue of himself and started bfating his mother over the head with

he also o ied to smother her with a pillow and suffocate her with a garbage bag -- according to the complaint... the man is being held in jail on a two-million dollar bond. more mass shhotings.... and more scandal. 20-15 seems like a year of history repeating. mary moloney looks at the national stories that made headlines this year. this was a tragically recurring scene during 20-15. crowds fleeing another to a college campus in roseburg, oregon... then a mass shooting at a health center in san bernardino that authorities say may have been inspired by isis. president obama lled it an act of terrorism. (president obama): "the threat from terrorism is real. but we will overcome it." in roanoke... two journalists were killed when a gunman opened fifi during their live report. and in charleston a shooting at a black church reignited a long simmering national debate over the confederate flag. the palmetto state voted to remove the flag from the state

years. racial tensions were not confined to charleston with black lives matter rallies happening in cities across the country protesters were outraged by the police killings of unarmed black men like june saw two historic decisions from the supreme court of the united states. in a 6-3 split the court ruled at same-sexxcouples can marry nationwide. (naas) while many cheeree the 5-4 rulinnsome sharply disagreed. in a small kentucky town a clerk of the court sat behind bars for preventing her office from issuing marriage licenses. kimimdavis made headdnes again when she publicly announced she'd had a private meeting with pope stops in philadelphia, new york, and washington d-c making history as the first pope to address congress. (pope francis): "god a report from congrees accuseddapanese auto parts manufacturer takata of putting profits ahead of safety. takata disputed the

of "inaccuracies" but the company's faulty airbags resulted in a huge recall affecting 34 million cars. and new england rocked the sports world in january when the patriots were accused using under- inflated balls to win a playoff game (tom brady/quarterback): "i feel like i've always played within the rules..' meanwhile former patriot aaron hernandez, boston marathon bombbr dzhokhar tsarnaev and aurora theater shooter james holmes were convicted in highly publicized trials. as they faced justice 2 inmates fled from it in upstate with one inmate dead and another back behind bars. i'm mary moloney reporting. still on the way today ... an iowa man's final wish to see

star wars movie is fulfilled... and stormtrack seven meteorologist kyle kiel will be back

forecast when we return.through the kwwl viiing area thunderstorms ould be a line from cedar rapids to dubuque and points southeast, and the best window would be between 2 and 5 pm. there could be southeast of iowa. the low tracks through this afternoon, and on tte back side there could be a brief period of rain and snow changing to all snow. accumulations would be a half inch or less, but there could be slick spots for the eveninggommute, anddt turns windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on christmas eve, with christmas looking dry. we are also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light

rain will continue to track through the kwwl viewing area through late this morning, with a dry period possible by the lunch hour. the best threat for thunderstorr would be aa line from cedar rapids to dubuque and points southeast, and the best window would be between 2 and 5 pm. there could be a couple stronger storms as well, but the better threat for severe weather will be southeast of iowa. the low tracks through this afternoon, and on the back side there could be a brief period of rain and snow changing to all snow. accumulations would be a half inch or less, but there could be slick spots for the evening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on christmas eve, with christmas looking dry. we are also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the rion. rain will continue to track through the kwwl v vewing area for thundeetorms would e a lle from cedar rapids to dubuque and points southeast, and the best window would be between 2 and 5 pm. there could be southeast of iowa.

afternoon, and on the back side snow. aacumulations would be a half inch or less, but there could be slick spots for the evening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on christmas eve, witit christmas looking dry. we are also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the region. rain will continue to track through the kwwl viewing areaa througg late this mooning, with a dry period possible by the lunch hour. the best threat for thunderstorms would be a line from cedar rapids to be a couple stronger storms as well, but the better threat for severe weather will be southeast of f owa. the low tracks through this afternoon, and on the back side there could be a brief period of rain and snow changing to all snow. accumulations would be a half inch or less, but there could be slick spots for the evening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on

looking dry. we are also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the region. the low tracks through this afternoon, and on the back side there could be a brief period of could be slick spots for the evening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a few snow showers are possible on christmas eve, with christmas looong dry. we arr also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the region. rain will continue to track trough the kwwt viewing area through late this morning, with a dry period possibleeby the lunch hour. the best threret dubuque and points southeast, and the best window would be between 2 and 5 pm. there could be a couple stronger storms as well, but the better threat for severe weather will afternoon, and on the back side thererecould be a brii period of rain and snow changing to all snow. accumulations would be a half inch or less, but there could be slick spots for the evening commute, and it turns windy overnight. a ew snow showers are posssble on christmas eve, withthchristmas looking dry. we are also tracking another system for saturday which could bring light rain and snow to the region. rain will continue to track through the kwwl viewing area through late this morning,

the luncnc hour. the bessthreat for thundersttms would be a line from cedar rapids to dubuque and points southeast, well, but the better threat for severe weather will be southeast of iowa. the low tracks through this afternoon, and on the back side half inch or less, but there showers are possible on satrday which coold bring light rain and snow to the region. it took more than a roadrunner to get one wily wild animal out of an airport... check this out. security cameras captured footage of a coyote running by the securitit checkpoints for passengers in a south carolina airport... the t-s-a says the coyote entered the terminal through the baggage area. no one came in contact with the animal and no one was injured. security officers subdued the animal with a taser.

the solution one research group proposes to cut down on head injuries on the gridiron... it might surprprse you... you're watching kwwl. we've got you covered.

the new yopportunities for people looking to buy a home. potential home buyers can expect credit standards to ease rather than tighten in the ear future. according to fannie mae, more lenders are easing standards. that could help make houses more afforable. some new advice is now out... on who should be taking medication to lower their cholesterol.

recommends adults as young as 40 ... with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease ... should take a low dose of these drugs... according to experts -- studies have shown these drugs can help healthy middle-aged people avoid heart problems ... if they have more than a 10-percent risk of a heart attack or stroke over the next decade... a new study suggests helet- less football drills ... could actually reduce the number of head injuries among these athletes... a study in new hampshire found by not using helmets -- players learned to adjust their tackling techniies to be more protective of their heads. they found after one season -- the group without helmets had a 28- percent decrease in head impacts during practices and games... researchers say high school and college players absorb more than one-thousand impacts per season -- and the subject of brain safety is also a hot topic in the n-f-l.... coming up ... a final wish to travel to a galaxy far, far away is granted for a

installment of star wars opened up to record numbers over the weekend -- but it's possible that no one was more excited ... or more deserving... to see the movie than a man from ankeny... eric hanson has the emotional story of a final trip to the for patients, one night their lives. the guy in room 5 only knows he's somewhere in the triple digits. was a kid when doctors first said "noonan syndrome".

make you weak, it can make you face death. it's all heart-related, it's very complicated, it's not very well known. other than you spend a lot of time, dreaming what you'd do when you get out of the i-c-u. oh. shawn's mom couldn't single-handedly grant his first wish - electing donald trump. but a couple paramedics helped her with another. busting him out, right past the white board where his big goal still read. 'get out of here to see star wars.' that's kinda been a goal of his, every time he starts feeling down, or whatever we point at the board and say hey, we gotta get out, we got a couple more days, we're getting close. saturday morning, just after sunrise-- i'll see you there ok? shawn got a chauffeured ambulance ride to ankeny's springwood 9-- where they'd reserved one entire theater for the guy who was living,

star wars was his anchor, his drive, his gotta get to see star around him-- i'm thankful. the curtain rose and the coming attractions started. which hurt. it does, it does. because shawn had made it clear. this movie would be he's tired of being poked and prodded, he just wants to go home. by the time his face flickered with the return of his favorite character-- i like han. the hospice nurse by his side had already officially taken over. nats they were telling themselves 'this is what he wants'. it's tough but i have to fulfill minutes, the guy who's already

science soaked in every frame. we're making memories, and not everybody gets to do that. once the lights came up, the guy on the stretcher was so exhausted, he mustered only a two-word review-- not bad. and a few, final hugs. ok, shall we get you home? all right, let's get you home. where the guy who's only 28 - wants his story to end. it's his call.

zoo animalszoo creatures of all shapes and sizes who were apparently on the nice list this year -- are given gifts to unwrap... special treats inside for the different animals -- actually part of a program to help the animals act as if they were in the wild... a torando watch may be issued to the south and east, but severe weather threat across iowa will be low. chance for rain this afternoon, switching over to a little bit of snow as we head into the evening hours. be careful. that will do it for us here at noon. our next newscast is tonight at five. have a great day.